Method of cleaning galvanizing pots



Sept. 1, 1931. F. 1.. MCMEANS METHOD OF CLEANING GALVANIZING POTS Filed Aug. 9, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l I INVENTOR Rank L Mc Mean;

b 041') MMJMW his attorneys Sept. 1, 1931.

F. L. M MEANS METHOD OF CLEANING GALVANIZING POTS Filed Aug. 9. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lrllullvlllllvallllllnllltll Frank LMc Means b M WWW/M5 n: atbornegs Patented Sept. 1, 1931 Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANK L. MGMEANS, OF APOLLO, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO PHILIP IB. DOVEBSPIKE, OF VANDERGRIFTS, PENNSYLVANIA METHOD OF CLEANING GALVANIZING POTS Application filed August 9, 1929. Serial No. 384,767.

This invention'relates to a method of removing the segregated impurities from the useful metal in galvanizing pots, and consists in a series of steps whereby the impurities are removed from the galvanizing pot, separated from the galvanizing metal, and ultimately reduced to form.

In the .operation 0 galvanizing pots or tanks, it is necessary, from time to time, to remove the impurities (dross) which are present in the galvanizing alloy. These impurities, .one of which is lead, are heavier than the alloy, and they segregate in a layer at the bottom of the pot.

, vanizing Included with the dross there is to be found an a preciable amount of the useful alloy, and efore discarding the impurities, it is desirable to remove therefrom the useful metal.

The object of my invention is to remove the dross, by mechanical means, from a galtank, and to submit it to pressure to remove therefrom the useful galvanizing metal, prior to molding and cooling it in pig form;

'In the accompanyin drawings I have illustrated an organizatlon of mechanical elements which may serve conveniently to conduct the method of my invention. Figure is a plan view of such mechanical elements, showing them associated with a galvanizing tank; Figure '2 isa fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane 2-2 of Figure 1,

showing in side elevation a portion of the apparatus in a position of operation within the tank; and Figure 3 is a view in side elevation, illustrating diagrammatically means to press the dross, and to form it into pigs.

Referring tolthe drawings'the reference numeral 1-1ndicates a galvanizing tank containing the bath of molten galvanizing metal 2. Settled belowthe metal 2 in said tank lies a stratum of dross or impurities 3, which -g the motor impurities are to be removed and dispensed with. By suitable means, such as an overhead crane, mstrumentahties are positioned on the tank to conduct my process of remov ing the stratum of dross 3.

The instrumentalities shown in the drawings are simply indicative of one of several 1 quickly date the structure threaded rods 12 and 13 are fixed to the mem- -of the tank.

mechanical arrangements which may be evolved to'serve in my method. They comprise a base-frame formed of the four anglebeams 4, and across two of these beams there extends a carriage 5, which is movable over the tank on the wheels 6the wheelsbeing trunnioned in the carriage to ride on the vertical flangesaa of the beams.

The carriage 5 includes the angle members 7', and on these members there is borne the platform 8, which is adapted to move (its supporting wheels 9 rolling on the members 7.) transversely of the tank. Operatively supported by the platform and arranged to extend downwardly through the metal 2 into the dress 3 isthe endless bucket-chain 10. A motor 11 may be suitably connected to drive the bucket-chain in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 2. I

The buckets of the chain move downwardly through the molten alloy 2 and, as they turn at the bottom of the tank to 'go upwardly, they fill with molten dross. The dross, 'being heavier than the metal 2 and being of spongy plastic characteristics, remains in the buckets during their upward movement through the metal. Because of these characteristics, the dross does not flow toward the spot atwhich the chainbuckets are removing it, and for this reason it is expedient to move the bucket-chain over the entire bottom-surface of the tank to scavenge thoroughly the dross therefrom.

To effect such movement of the bucketchain it is necessary that the supporting platform be adjustable both-transversely and longitudinally of the tank. To accommoto such adjustability, two

14 fit here 7 as shown, and the worm gears with threaded engagement these rods.

Worm. pinions 15 mesh with these worm ears, and connections may be completed to 11 to rotate the said pinions and gears. Linear movement betweenthe platform andge'ars 14 is prevented, and 1t is obvious that rotation of the worm-gears on the rods 12 and 13 will promote movement of the platform and bucket-chaintransversel Two threadedsha'fts 16 and 1 are intergeared, and are arranged to be galvanizing metal ceases to be fluid, to an rotated b connections to a motor 18.. As expressing action for separation of said inshown in igure 3, a nut-engagement may be eluded galvanizing metal from the confined had with the latter shafts by members, such dross.

5 as 1 9, which are fixed to the carria e 5. 2. The method of the next preceding cla m, 7 Rotation of the shafts efi'ects longitu inal in which the expressed, fluid galvanizing movement of the bucket-chain, platform, and metal is returned to said bath immediately carriage. after its separation from said confined mass It will be noted in Figure 2 that the buckets of dross.

10 deposit the dross in a ladle 20. As shown in In testimony whereof I have hereunto set .7

Figures 1 and 3, there is pivotally mounted my hand. on the standard 21 a perforated container 22. RANK MOMEANS' Into this container the dross collected in the ladle 20 is deposited, and by means of a steam orv air cylinder 23, a plunger 24 is so caus'edto compress the dross. This action will force a great amount of the included galvanizing metal from the dross, and the metal will flow through the perforations of the container 22 to be conducted back into. 85

the tank 1.

The container is next swim outwardly to a position over a pig-machine Iiopper 25, and the clutch 26 is moved to complete connec- 5 tions to the motor 18 to operate the chain of pig-molds. The bottom 27 of the container 22 is then removed to allow the dross to fall into the hopper 25, whereby it is fed into the molds 28, as they move from right to left 0 (Figure 3). A spray of Water 29 cools the cast pigs of dross, as they approach the left end of the chain of molds,and as the molds round the sprocket 30 the pigs are dropped to the floor to be removed at convenience. 4

My method ofhandling the dross of galvanizing tanks saves more time, labor and expense than any method now employed.

The method is further desirable because it 7 includes the separating-operation-the operation of. expressing the useful metal from the dross. Of course, the buckets of the. 1 chain 10 and the ladle 20 may be perforated to allow some of the metal to drain from the dross contained therein, but it is essential that the dross be subjected also to the positive expressing operation.

at I claim is: 1. In the maintenance of a molten bath of hot galvanizing metal, the method of eliminating dross which lies in a stratum beneath 118 said galvanizing metal, which method 'com-' prises the steps of lowering-an endless conveyor through'the bath of galvanizing metal and into said stratum of dross, causing actuation of said endless conveyor and efl'ectin a I 129" progressive removal of the dross with ineluded galvanizing metal upwardly through said bath, and effecting, during such progressive removal of dross, movement of thelower terminus of said endless conveyor over the area of said stratum, conveying such progresjecting such confined mass, before the dross 65 has cooled below a temperature at which the 

